Nitrous oxide or laughing gas

Perhaps the best known oxide of nitrogen is N20, commonly called nitrous oxide or laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is frequently used as an anesthetic, particularly in dentistry. It is also the propellant gas used in whipped cream containers N20 is nontoxic, virtually tasteless, and quite soluble in vegetable oils. The N20 molecule, like all those in Figure 21.6, can be represented as a resonance hybrid. 

In this case, N20 (called nitrous oxide or laughing gas) has natural sources, such as emissions from swamps and other oxygen-free ( anoxic ) waters and soils. The oxygen atoms in this reaction can come from several tropospheric photolytic reactions involving OH or OOH. Another source of NO is the thermal reaction between N2 and 02 ... 

General anesthetics arc powerful depressants used in surgery to make people insensible to pain. They arc gases or volatile liquids administered by inhalation through masks over the face or tubes in the throat. Most are never seen outside operating rooms, but a few have been popular recreational drugs in the past, and one nitrous oxide, or laughing gas — is still in common nonmedical use. 

Using this nomenclature, water H2O, which we could call today dihydrogen oxide but don t) would be pronounced die-abb-bee. Common glass (silicon dioxide) would have the pleasing sound die-bee-day and P2O3 the jolly try-bee-die-dee. However, nitrous oxide or laughing gas (N O) is die-bay-bee, not likely to encourage a dental patient, but fortunately it is not N3O, pronounced try-bay-bee. ... 

Start with a binary molecular compound. Note that a binary molecular compound is composed only of two nonmetal atoms—not metal atoms or ions. An example is dinitrogen monoxide (N2O), a gaseous anesthetic that is more commonly known as nitrous oxide or laughing gas. The naming of nitrous oxide is explained in the following rules. 

Nitrogen exists in a variety of compounds in the atmosphere, including nitrous oxide (or laughing gas, N O), nitric oxide (NO),... 

Dinitrogen monoxide (N2O), more commonly called nitrous oxide or laughing gas, has an inebriating effect and has been used as a mild anesthetic by dentists. Because of its high solubility in fats, nitrous oxide is widely used... 

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is used as a dental anesthetic. It is also useful as a propellant in whipped-cream dispensers. The gas dissolves in cream under pressure. When the cream is dispensed, the gas bubbles out, forming a foam. 

Dinitrogen oxide (nitrous oxide, or "laughing gas") is sometimes used as an anesthetic. Here are some data about the N2O molecule N—N bond length = 113 pm N—O bond length = 119 pm. Use these data and other information from the chapter to comment on the plausibility of each of the following Lewis structures shown. Are they all valid Which ones do you think contribute most to the resonance hybrid ... 

Once familiar with the system, we can dispense with the circles and abbreviate the picture. An example of variable valency in one compound is dinitrogen oxide or nitrous oxide, N2O ( laughing gas ), with nitrogen valencies of three and five ... 

Gases in the air, such as nitrogen and the noble gases (argon, xenon, etc), can reach the active site, but are inert and so do not bond to the iron. Nitrous oxide (NgO, laughing gas, see p37l), also binds reversibly to hemoglobin, which transports it to the brain where it acts as a sedative. This allows N2O to be used as a breathable painkiller or anesthetic, particularly by... 

The survey of nitrogen oxidation states starts with the nitrides and ammonia (—3). Binary nitrides are much like hydrides and oxides in that they can be ionic, covalent, or interstitial. Ammonia is the familiar pyramidal, hydrogen-bonding base ammonium salts are much like those of potassium and rubidium except that the ammonium ion is a weak acid. Hydrazine (—2) is closely related to ammonia and is such an excellent reducing agent that it is used in rocket fuels. Hydroxylamine contains nitrogen in the —1 oxidation state. Nitrous oxide (+1), laughing gas, was the first anesthetic. Nitric oxide (+2) is an odd-electron species. It seems like a simple... 

Davy s research was to make him famous, not because he performed dangerous experiments, but because he discovered a new recreational drug. In 1800 he published a 580-page book titled Researches, Chemical and Philosophical, Chiefly Concerning Nitrous Oxide, or Dephlogisticated Nitrous Air, and Its Respiration in which he discussed his discovery of, and researches on, laughing gas. Describing its effects, Davy wrote ... 

Anesthetics Nitrous oxide (NzO) or laughing gas, the most abused of the gases. Liquid anesthetic contains halothane and enflurane local anesthetic contains ethyl chloride. Vegetable oil cooking spray and whipping cream cartridges also contain nitrous oxide. 

Nitrous oxide Whereas nitrous oxide [nye truss OX ide] (N20 or laughing gas ) is a potent analgesic, it is a weak general anesthetic. Thus, it is frequently combined with other more potent agents. Because it moves very rapidly into and out of the body, nitrous oxide can increase the volume (pneumothorax) or pres-... 

Also called nitrous oxide, dinitrogen monoxide, sweet air or laughing gas, N2O is the most stable nitrogen oxide which - coupled with its IR absorption properties - makes its participation inevitable in the greenhouse effect. It can be electroreduced in alkatine and acidic media. Current efficiencies up to 100 % have been reported. Pd and macrocycUc amine complexes catalyze this electroreduction to N2(g> [2, 5]. The presence of N2O can be used to advantage by forming an N2O-H2 fuel cell [5]. 

LAUGHING GAS (And/Or Press, 1973) is the best reference on the psychedelic effects of nitrous oxide. N20 can be produced by heating ammonium nitrate at 240° until gas evolution ceases (the... 

Sometimes, masks or plastic bags are filled with laughing gas and then placed over the mouth and/or head. This practice carries a particularly high risk for serious injury and possible death, because the user can lose consciousness and suffocate on the mask or bag. Suffocation can also occur when nitrous oxide is consumed in large quantities in a poorly ventilated space, such as a car or closet, or when the user doesn t breathe in a sufficient amount of oxygen during prolonged use. 

Samuel Colt is perhaps best known as the inventor of the Colt 45 revolver. But in the 1830s, at the tender age of 19, Colt was touring the United States and Canada as Doctor and/or Professor Coult, amazing onlookers with live demonstrations of laughing-gas inhalation. For. 25 (. 10 for children), audience members could watch Sam Colt administer the gas to volunteers, who would then entertain the crowd with their inebriated reactions. These money-making nitrous oxide demonstrations helped finance the prototype and production of Colt s first five-shot revolver. 

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